Display rack



J. S. LESKO DISPLAY4 RACK April 6, 1948.

Filed Avug.. 4, 1944 I TIVENTOR `/0/72 ,JY Les 0,

ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 6,1948

"UNITED STATES PATENT DxsrLAY nikel; John S. Lesk, Bridgeport, Conn. @Question Mwst 4, 19.4.14,1Setie1 .Nep-548,039

19 Glalms.

This invention lie-lates `to `srtile-suppoJrting racks, `and more partielllrly to .a ,display .raek such as vmay be used for holding floral despretions in churches, funeral parlors, etc.

An object of the invejn on is .to prettige en .extremely .simple collapsible rack.Y `Qi very Efew easily-,fabricated parts, which ,iS .eQQnOmiCfll `.t9 manufacture yand which may' be ,i 'ekly @1119911- veniently assembled and disman. Q1, ,yet .Wliieh is .streng and rigid .fer tbe' purpose intended, lid .when dismantled .occupies but little spese.;

This is accomplished by an organisation gf substantially rigid structural `lonrwts Wl'ilqlgi `may be made from standard or stock ,silnples and .which are Vshatped to intert with eeen Qtlier without requiring additional fnstenngs and .in .a

`ndi/fel manner such that e, racking sind supporting .structure -is Fobteined.

In the form `of the inventiqn v:it present preferred the mdk 'is `made withput e supporting base `and is intended to'be supnqrted by 'b ...llg leaned .against .a wallet .any desired emmen@ angle. l

In `one exempliricetionof .the5inventif?r1;l .a rack is `proyided having a Vpsir .of extendible uprights each Consistinsof two telesping meieltubisr members, sind having .a plurality Q f Hess-bers formed of metal strip, connected to the members.` The `members are .apertured ,at longitudinally spaced intervals toreceYe'he ends Qf the QTPSS- bars, `which are .n.eehed, .tbenpertures *heinek- `cated .so that .the lowermflst .CITQss-:bsr may Lbe held by the weightof (the,uppertubulermnieinbers in hooked engagement with .the ,lower .tubular members 4ejss'inst accidental Ys1.islsidse.ment therefrom, and .so .that `enotliei .erpss-.ber .may be removably hooked to botltimernbers to form@ vconnection which braces the Aratei: against s ldesw'ay. Other cross-bars may "be @hooked in vother apertured portions of themembersrnndlsome pfthese bars may serve esti@ reds Whiiih .slsmsupport floral piecessind .the like, .w1i11e-pthersir`1lsddition vto these `functiciri to -furtherbrace the rack againstsidesway.

Hemels-'like .cdfnnetirmsibetween'the Vertical tubular members end thelcress-berspernut Vmick and convenient assembling and dismantling of the rack Without the necessity o-f using smaJ-llM-a'd- .ditional partssuch as `screws and the likewhich max/...become lest .Qrsizrippedyyet :thesesomiecat the peint .clef Fie.

Fie.. .6.15 .e .fragmentary .-veriissl .seetgism `teken ,etthepointdemite?.` .i

Fig. "7 is e.irssisentsrytleneiiudinsl .seetiprisl new .0f s modiiediotmdf upright forthe reels lower .siriieturelmehher 1.2 ifelescopilyeas- AG1 filing te `-tlrlis inventionzthe membersll erwies .sled heskeilreressebers Wrh steelt. ildp, er. widediif al-.manner that thefrsek niembelgyi 1y en@ soliveniently assemble'djorgdismantled MhQIlLG.. i223 pari-fs; f sind so that @when assembled; .and :leaning ragainst e wall, forinstance it `Willil bestrong and sturdy for supporting@decorations .-"siich` as '.:oral lpieces snd-thsrlile, also .to the extent Q1.' .ubelng @ther .festireslssdlssltsnteses will helene-fier 3 movable from one place to another without ger of collapse.

Accordingly, as shown in Figs. 3, and 6, the lower members I2 of the uprights are provided with elongate apertures I2a in their walls, preferably uniformly spaced longitudinally, and a plurality of cross-bars I3 are provided, the ends of the bars being of a size and shape enabling them to nt into the apertures I2a and having notches I3a forming hooks. By this construction the cross-bars I3 may be hooked into the lower members I2 of the uprights, as shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6, to connect the latter together in their assembledpositions. AsV shown inFigs. 2 and 4, the .upper` members II of the uprights are also provided with apertures, designated IIa.

dan-

for receiving other cross-bars I3. However, the` apertures IIa which are in the lower portions of.

the members II have definite predetermined po'- sitions with respect to the aperturesV IZa located in the upper portions of` the members ,12. Re-4 ferring to Fig. 5, an aperture IIaI is provided-in l the lower portion of one of the members Il in such a location that it aligns with that aperture 12a of the enclosing member I2 which is located immediately above the lowermost' cross-bar I3 when the lower end of the member II is in position to rest on the end portion of this crossbar, as shown in Fig. 6. Both uprights Ill are constructed in this manner. By this arrangement, referring to Figs. 2 and 5, the second lowestcross-bar I3 may securely hook into both the members II andV I2, and by Virtue of` the close clearances provided, may prevent sidesway of the rack. Yet the bar I3 may be easily removed at any time by merely lifting it at both ends, and shifting it one way or the other to move one end first out of the 'aligned apertures IIa and IZa. As shown inv Fig. 4, the cross-bars I3 connecting together solely the upper members II may be' also conveniently removed in the same manner. Since, however, the weight of the members II are carried bythe'ends of the lowermost crossbar I3, the latter isto this extent locked, in its hooked position against accidental removal. By this construction there is avoided the use of small parts such as clamping screws andthe like, which may become lost, Orstripped after prolonged use, yet the assembled structure is sturdy and rigid for the purpose intended.

vReferring again to Fig. 2, only two cross-bars I3 are shown connected solely with the"upper members II of the uprights. However, Vby loeating the cross-bars inother apertures the Vdevice may be assembled so that three'cross-bars Vconnect solely with the members II and only vone. cross-bar connects with the members I2, in

whichevent the rack would be extended to a ,higher position, or Vthe rack may be assembled .in a lower position wherein one cross-bar may connect solely with the members II, and three cross-bars connect with the members I2. In

`either case, the connection of the lowermost cross-.bar I3 will be as illustrated 'in Fig. 6, wherein the members II rest on the end portions of the cross-bar to hold these in place, and

the connections, if any, of the highercross-bars vto the members I2 will be as shown in Fig.`5

wherein the apertures IIa and I2a of vthe respective members are aligned.

IA convenient way of assembling the-rack is 4to insert the lowermost cross-bar I3 in the lower members I2, insert the uppermost cross-bar I3 in bers I2 and II together until the lower end of the upper members I I, and then bring the mem-` Preferably, the lower ends of the members I2V are provided with feet I6 which may be of rubber or other suitable material and the upper ends of the members II provided with ornamental knobs I1 which may be of metal.

In a modification of the invention, shown in Fig. 8, the telescopic members of the uprights may be of square cross-section, the lower memberISbeing larger to receive the smaller upper member I3. The members I8 and I9 may be 1 formed of sheet metal with a welded dressed seam, or may be drawn in tubular form. The advantage of this construction is that if the members Iand I9 are initially telescoped with their apertured walls adjacent each other, the

apertures intended to align with each otherA to receive the ends of the next lowest cross-bar will be caused to alignor register automatically when the lower ends of the inner members rest on the lowermost cross-bar, since the inner membersdcannot turn with respect to the outer members. a `V 5 Another modication of the inventionV is shown in Fig. 9, wherein the crossmember 20 may beA made of'a material such as wood, and provided with hooks 2| of metal. These hooks may be attached'to the ends of the bars 20 by screws' 22,'and may be formed of. metal plates having notches 2Ia, the plates being of a size -and'shape to .t into the apertures of the upright members. Y Y

Another. modification of the invention is shown in Fig. '7, which illustrates an upright 23 Vcomprising a'lower member 24 and an upper member 25, each of rectangular section, Vthe members being made of wood or other` similar material. In this form of the invention the `upright members 24 Vand 25 arel provided with apertures ZIIaI and 25a. respectively which pass entirely through the members, the apertures being spaced so that the lowermost cross-bar I3 .is engaged by the upper wall 25h of the aperture 25a when',` the'upper` apertures 24a. and 25a are in alignment. Thus the end portion of the crossbar I3 supports the weight of the upper member 25 and is locked thereby Vin the position shown.. Y y. 4 The lower end portion 25e of the rnember25 is vprovided with aY strap clamp 26 which Vmay `embrace the member 24 to prevent lateralseparation of the members .while at the same time permitting longitudinal adjustment.

Byl using the construction of Figs. '7 and 9, a rack'- maybe made in accordance with the invention using all wooden structural members, as

may be readily understood.

within the scope of this invention and portions 1. of the'` improvements may be usedv without others. f I Y Iv claim:

1. lA collapsible -display rack conslstingjof, a

pair of vertical 'end members comprising vertica-llyadiustable-seotions-fdisposedlinoverlapped;

relation andl` movable` relativelyv to oneanother to variousadjusted-positions and a plurality of` crossmembers., each` having at5 eachV end disconnectable. interlockingA connections directly with the end-f members andiconstituting. means i or securing the end members: together andL inf adjusted positionand also supports forA articles to be displayed thedQWerends ofA said vertical'members constituting feetl upon which# theAV rack` may; be-supportedlinfaninclined-position and the .upperI endsofthe verticali members. constituting abutments foreng-agement with atv/all` against which the rack isinclined; saidfeetf and abutmen-tscon-4 stituting themeanswherebytherack-issupported;

bular vertical end-members comprisingvertically adjustablesectionsfdispesed ini overlapped@rela'-d tion and movable relatively to;Y one another to variousadiustedspositions-andiaplurality ofl ar'- tiele-supportingcross members;v the sections oib said end members havingV spacedl apertures for removablyr and'4 interlocking-ly receiving hooked ends onsaid cross@ members to-` secure; the sec. tions in adjusted positionL and1-the--endf members together, the lower endsL ot! said vertical members constituting feetV uponI whichs the-.rackI-may be supported` for incliningmovement and` the? upper ends ofthe vertical-memb'ersconstituting abutments -for engagementr-witha; Walll against which the rachis-inclined; saidfeet and abutments constituting thesole means whereby; the rack is supported;`

3. A'v collapsible Vertical-rackhavingsa pair ofelongate vertical upper members and; apair of elongatevertieal lower members A`respeetively slidableon eachother; said members having overlapping portions and means forepreve-n-ting lateral separation of A-said portions;4 the members of i one pair having apertures -intermediate'- their ends; a crossbar having. hooks at its ends extending-'into said apertures andhookingf-.onthe said-one pairofmembers;` andvr a second; crossbar connected to the other pair oi` members; portions ofi-saidother pair, by virtue of .the weightA of.` one `pair off members, engaging the hooks L ofthevw first-mentioned erossbar under pressure to maintain:- sameJ inL hooked position .against accidental 'dislodgement 4. A collapsible vertical-display rack havingl a pair of. uprights each comprising upper and'lower relatively slidable elongate members having over-- lapping portions and :means for preventing lateral separation Voi said portions-,i the-lower memV`-` bers each havin-ga pair oi*` apertures longitudi-` nallyl spaced from each other; `a-,cr-ossbar having hooks at its ends extending/into the-.lower apertures. oi each lower A member; andshooking on the latter; and a second crossbarfliaving:` hookedV ends extending: into the upper i apertures-'ofthe lower members, said upper-members restingV at their,

lower ends on the hooks of the'iirst-mentioned crossbar to-maintain same imposition against-accidental: dislodgement; and-said upper members having apertures alignediwith -the upper 'apertures of the lower member so that-the ends of the secondrnentioned crossbar may hook intothe upper and. lower members simultaneously.

5. A collapsible .vertical display-l rack having a pair of uprights each comprising-upper andlower relatively slidable' elongate'members ha-'ving' overlapping. portions and means for preventing lateral separation oi-rsaid` portions; apertures in the lower members located* intermediate the ends thereof; a -crossbarlhaving hooksV atits ends-ex tending intoV said apertures and; lfiookingon` the ionen-members; andrat seoondiorossbar. connectee'Ly to K the uprights,-. saidA upper ymembers having por.- tionswhich rest, by virtue off the-weight off` theM members, ontheL hooks of@A the first-mentioned.: crossb ar tomaintain sa-meina positionlagainsirac-l cidental dislodge-ement.

62 A- collapsible di'splayiraolpA having.: au pair.-A of; uprights,V eachy comprising-af pair ofteleseopingJ members,A the outer-1 membersfhavingf apertures.-`

in their Walls interniodiate:theinen'ds;` across.-

bar `havinghooksfat'- its: endsiextending intosaidz apertures and hooking on. saidy outen members; and a second:r erossbar' connectedftofthei,u.prights said'A inner telescopingf members; resting.c at, their lower ends on the hooksi ofrthe.A first-mentioned crossbar to. 1naintaii1-V same: infY position:` against accidental dislodgement;

, 7; A collapsible.display. rack hai/inge arpair;` of

uprights; a "secondr pain oi:` uprightsf. respectively telescoping. said;v iirstf: pair; the; uprigirtsi. off; one pair` having. apertures in l their walls :intermediate their ends; a crossbar havingV` hooker atfits.;` ends extending. into said apertures and; hooking: on.

thel uprights. having` same; said: other` pair of uprights `at their: ends engaging: the.` hookseof theerossbar under pressure.maintained'bmtheiweight3 of one of' saidpairs tormaintainltheicrossban in positionagainst accidental dislodgement;v and'va:

of the crossbar under pressuresl maintained?. by

theA weight of one of'saidpairslztoi maintain-the.A

crossbar in position'. against. aocidentalrdislodge.-

ment; and a.. second.'crossbandemount'ably car-g 9. A: collapsible vertical: displaywraclnhaving a. pair of uprights each comprisingupperzandlower; telescoping members; the` lowerrmembers each.:

having a pair of apertures; longitudinally: spacedv from eachother; acrossbar havingzvhooks .atiitsends extending into' they lowerI apertures. ouf.` each:v lower member and .hooking on; theslatter;. anda. second croissbar havingi hooked? ends extending into theupper apertures of :thelower members; said upper members restingV atftheir lower ends.

on the hooks of the.rst-mentionedscrossbar to. maintain same in positionagainstaccidental. dise lodgement, and said upper Vmemb.ershaving. apertures aligned with the Lupper aperturesot'.` the` lower members so that the endsl ofthe second-` mentioned crossbar.` may houle: ontdthe-lupper.v and lower members simultaneously.

10. The invention as deiinedfin claim; 9;'. ine which the upper members. eachshaving anlaperfture located above. the telescopediportions-thereof.,v and inzwhich there. isiathirdcrossbar hai/ing.

hooked ends. extending. intofsaiduapertures; and

hooking on said members..

11. A collapsible vertical display racle havinga pair of tubular uprightsyeacl'n'comprisingupper and lower telescoping members .having:L non-cir;-

cular cross-section to preventA relative;n turning movement, the lower members 1-each;havin1g-apair of apertures in one` Wall longitudinallyvspaoed from each other; a crossbarhavinghooks-at-its ends A extending intotbe`-lower apertures or;y each lower `member andl hooking on-tl`1e= -saidiwall of-l 7 the latter; 'and agsecond crossbar having hooked ends extending into the upper apertures of the lower members,y said upper members resting at their lower ends on the hooks of the first-mentioned crossbar to maintain same in position against accidental dislodgement, and said upper members having apertures in one wall aligned with the upper `apertures of the lower members so that the ends of the second-mentioned crossbar may hook -onto the said Walls of the upper Vand lower members simultaneously, the shape of the members providing for convenient registration of the said aligned apertures if the members are caused to telescope initially in correct rotative relation duringl assembly of the rack.

12. A collapsible vertical display rack having a pair of tubular uprights of square cross-section, each comprising upper and lower tele-scoping members, the lower members each having a pair of apertures inone wall longitudinally spaced from `each other; a Icrossbar having hooks at its ends extending into .the lower apertures of each lower member and hooking on the said wall of the latter; and a second crossbar having hooked ends extending into the upper apertures of the lower members, said upper members resting at their lower` ends on the hooks of the rst-mentioned crossbar to maintain same in position against accidental dislodgement, and said upper members having apertures in one wall aligned with the upper apertures of the lower members so that the ends of the second-mentioned crossbar may hook onto the said walls of the upper and lower members simultaneously, the square cross-section of the uprights providing for lconvenient registration of the said aligned apertures if the members are caused to telescope initially in correct rotative relation.

13. A collapsible vertical display rack having a pair of uprights each comprising upper and lower telescoping' members, the-lower members each having a pair of apertures longitudinally spaced from each other; a crossbar having hooks at its ends extending into the lower apertures of each lower member and hooking on the latter; a second crossbar having hooked ends extending into the upper apertures of .the lower members, said upper members resting at their lower ends on the hooks of the first-mentioned crossbar to maintain same in position against accidental dislodgement, and said upper members having'a-pertures aligned with the upper apertures of the lower members so that the ends of the second-Y mentioned crossbar may hook onto the upper and lower members'sifmultaneously; a third crossbar; and means for demountably connecting the third crossbar to the upper members to hold the latter in iixed predetermined relative positions whereby during assembly of the rack the said third crossbar may position the apertures of said members for alignment with the corresponding apertures of the lower' members.

14. A collapsible display rack having a pair of tubular uprights of square cross-section; Va second pair of tubular uprights of square cross-section respectively telescoping -said first pair, the uprights of one pair each having Van aperture in one wall intermediate its ends; a crossbar having hooks at its ends extending into Vsaid apertures and hooking around the said walls, said other pair of uprights each having a wall engaging a hook of the crossbar under pressure maintained by the weight of one of said pairs'to maintain the crossbar in position against accidental dislodgement, and an aperture in said wall-rehaving hooks at itsA ends, each end extending into a corresponding aperture of the lower members and hooking on the latter; and a second crossbar having hooked ends extending into the remaining apertures of the lower members, said upper members Ahaving portions resting on the hooks, of the first-mentioned crossbar to maintain same in position against accidental dislodgement, and said upper members having apertures adjacent those through which the hooked ends of the second-mentioned crossbar extend for receiving said hooked ends.

16. A collapsible vertical display rack having a pair of upper verticalflat wooden strips and a pair of lower vertical flat wooden strips respectively slidable on each other, said strips having overlapping portions; straps carried by the overlapping portions of one pair for slidably engaging the overlapping portions of the other pair to prevent lateral separation of said portions, the strips of one pair having apertures intermediate their ends; a crossbar having hooks at its ends extending into said apertures and hooking on the said one pair of strips; and a second crossbar connected to the other pair of strips, portions of said other pair by virtue of the weight of one pair of strips, engaging the hooks of the first-mentioned crossbar under lpressure to maintain same in hooked position against accidental dislodgement.

17. A collapsible vertical display rack having a pair of upper vertical flat strips and a pair of lower vertical flat strips respectively slidable on each other, said strips having overlapping portionsrand guide means associated therewith for preventing lateral separation of said portions, the strips of one pair having apertures intermediate their ends; a crossbar having hooks at its ends extending into said apertures and hooking on the said one pair of strips; and a second crossbar connected to the other pair of strips, portions of said other pair by virtue of the weight of one pair of strips, engaging the hooks of the rst-mentioned crossbar under pressure to maintain same in hooked position against accidental dislodgement.

18.1A Vcollapsible vertical display rack having a pair of uprights each comprising upper and lower relatively slidable elongate members having overlapping Aportions and means for preventing lateral separation of said portions, the overlapping portions of the lower members each having a pair of apertures longitudinally spaced from. each other; a crossbar having hooks at its ends extending intothe lower apertures of the lower members respectively and hooking on same; and a second crossbar having hooked ends extending into the remaining apertures of the lower members, said upper-members in their overlapping portions having apertures aligned with said remaining apertures of the lower members and receiving the ends of the second-mentioned crossbar, and having apertures adjacent the lower apertures of the lower members, receiving the ends of the first-mentioned crossbar, the latter supporting the weight of the upper members and being thereby prevented from unhooking.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Filkins Sept. 18, 1883 Number Number 10 Name Date Hubbard et al. Jan. 24, 1893 Groundmann l. Apr. 13, 1909 Madden Jan. 23, 1912 Wells Mar. 22, 1921 Goldsmith Mar. 29, 1921 Miller Apr. 26, 1921 Slater Dec. 7, 1926 Thompson June 2, 1931 Mioton Oct. 17, 1933 Marlowe Aug. '7, 1934 Brody June 30, 1936 Keeler Mar. 8, 1938 

